48. grant per child and drawing no dis- of 4d. or 6d. would be absolutely maintinction between one locality and another tained. [Cheers.] He confessed he and between one class of schools and thought some condition of this sort another, and only drawing a distinction should be made. The Archbishop of in the case of a School Board where the Canterbury's own suggestion was that rates were very high. It seemed to him a certain proportion of voluntary conthat the provision would be very difficult tribution should be made a condition to carry out. ["Hear, hear!"] If of any grant whatsoever. ["Hear, they took a distressed country district, hear!"] He felt that this scheme was in Essex, for instance, and they had so large and so widespreading that any two parishes side by side, one of which attempt to criticise it in detail now. had a voluntary school, with, perhaps, would be impossible, but he must say a 2d. voluntary rate, and next door to it, that, much as he agreed, from practical under exactly the same agricultural con- experience, in the belief that their ditions, they had a Board School, under system of elementary education was too a School Board, which might have been centralised, it seemed to him that this set up 20 years ago, and with a sudden and hasty plan of almost comrate of perhaps 5d. or 6d., did not that plete decentralisation was abnegating bring that School Board district under the authority and the influence of the the conditions which would enable it to State almost to too large an extent. receive part of this new grant ? It [Cheers.] He did not quite follow what seemed to him that the farmers and the Whitehall inspectors would do in ratepayers in that School Board parish future, what powers they were to have would feel somewhat aggrieved if they in future, or in what way the State, if it got no relief at all-[cheers]-when the found the level falling rapidly, was farmers and ratepayers in the voluntary going to try and raise that level again. school district might receive very con- ["Hear, hear!"] Perhaps they would siderable relief indeed. He did not understand that any definite conditions were to be made in return for this grant of 4s. per child. see some provision for this purpose made in the Bill. He passed from this very large and gigantic proposal, which was the kernel of the Bill--the almost comSIR J. GORST: Oh, yes. I said plete abnegation of State influence and the grants were to be distributed for the handing of it over to local authoricertain specific purposes. I will tell the ties to another matter on which he had House what they are. The special aid only one word to say. The complete grant "shall” be applied in such abolition of the 17s. 6d. limit was the manner as the educational authorities final withdrawal of that last shred of direct for the purposes of improving the teaching staff, as regards number, qualification, or salary; and so far as it is not, in the opinion of the educational authorities, required for that purpose, it is to be applied to any of the following purposes-namely, the payment of the teaching staff; the provision of special teachers, whether on the permanent staff or not; to the improvement of the education of pupil-teachers; or to the improvement of the education and fittings and apparatus of the school. MR. ACLAND said, he thought he understood that part, but what he did not understand was whether anything was to be done to prevent a proportionate lessening of the voluntary contribution. ["Hear, hear!"] In the instance he had put it seemed to him that in the one case the 2d. rate might disappear, and in the other case the School Board rate Mr. Acland. the principle of the Act of 1870 which The which raised the age to 12 years would, be said of it was that it was a kind of he was quite sure, receive the approval practical compromise which had worked of everyone in the House-[cheers]-and extremely well for the past 26 years, and it came most appropriately from the that statement could be supported by a right hon. Gentleman himself, who had large amount of authority from every always been thoroughly in earnest on good supporter of the present Governthis matter. [Cheers.] He would say, ment. It had worked well for 26 years, incidentally, how sincerely he sym- and 13 of those 26 years had been under pathised with what the right hon. Gen- Conservative administrations who never tleman had said about their child pupil- wished to modify or change it, and he teachers-["Hear, hear!"-and al- confessed that it seemed to him that ready, in the Code of this year, he had modifying it in the School Boards altoadvanced one step towards relieving gether, with all the corresponding arthem from the number of hours' work rangements in the Voluntary Schools, was which they had to give in their schools. likely to increase rather than to allay The arrangement about rates-making the religious difficulties. However that the County Council in London and the might be, he, for his own part, should county boroughs and the district councils do his best, as he was sure every other superior bodies over and above School Member would do, to approach a diffiBoards to check their rate-would, he cult question of this kind without anithought, meet with a considerable mosity, and to find out what might be, amount of criticism on the part of the under the circumstances, the most satisvarious educational authorities. ["Hear, factory way way out of the difficulty. hear!"] In what way they were going ["Hear, hear!"] Whatever their exto check the rate he did not exactly pectations might have been, he thought understand; perhaps they would under- that none of them anticipated what a stand it better when they saw the Bill. very large Measure this was going to be. The last provision which the right hon. He could only say that this was not the Gentleman mentioned, and by which he occasion for suggesting any alternative, hoped, as he understood, to remove for criticising in detail any omissions in finally and once for all the question of the Bill, or for saying anything about the religious difficulty in relation to some of those matters-such as the pretheir schools, was one the discussion of sent methods of management, especially which, he confessed, he should view with in our village schools, and the position of some apprehension. He thought that the teachers in those schools-which had many persons would regret that the been raised outside the House by variCowper-Temple clause was now going to ous Members of the Party to which he be removed and another set of provisions belonged. ["Hear, hear!"] substituted. He was no worshipper of would not now attempt to touch on those the Cowper-Temple clause, butmatters, because he felt that it would be He SIR J. GORST: I never said that out of place to do so on a First Reading the clause was to be abolished. I said of the Bill, and on the day when hon. it was additional to it. Members were going off for their Easter MR. ACLAND, resuming: Surely holidays. ["Hear, hear!"] He would the Temple-Cowper Clause stood that in only conclude by saying that, however every State-aided school in this country difficult, however involved, and however no instruction should be given which in- intricate might be the discussion which volved the teaching of formularies or inevitably lay before them, he thought catechisms. He understood that in they should all do their best not to emfuture, when groups of parents desired bitter it, and not to make it more coninstruction in formularies and catechisms, troversial than it must inevitably be. they were to obtain it in every class of ["Hear, hear!"] For the present, all school, whether Board School or Volun- they had to do, after having had a tary School. ["Hear, hear!"] That general outline of the Bill so clearly and he ventured to call the abolition of the lucidly put before them by the right hon. Cowper Temple Clause. ["Hear, Gentleman, was to get hold of the hear!"] He did not say the Cowper- printed Bill as soon as they could, and Temple Clause was an object of worship to give careful and fair-minded con on the part of anybody. All that could sideration to all its proposals. [Cheers.] On the return of Mr. SPEAKER, after He joined in the hope that the Bill the usual interval, would be discussed in a conciliatory *MR. R. C. JEBB (Cambridge Uni- spirit, and he denied utterly that the versity) said, he should not trespass friends of the Voluntary Schools were long on the time of the House, but actuated by hostility to Board Schools. as a Member of the recent Com- Such an imputation was, so far as he mission on Secondary Education he knew, entirely unjust. ["Hear, hear!"] should like to say a few words on They acknowledged the excellent work certain definite and salient points of that they were doing, and that in their own large, statesmanlike Measure-[cheers] sphere they should continue to prosper. -which had been introduced with so But these schools alone did not suffice much ability and lucidity by his right for the needs of the country. There hon. Friend. [Renewed cheers.] The was a large proportion of the people who distinctive principle of the Bill was the preferred that elementary education creation of a new educational authority, should include definite instruction in the with jurisdiction over an entire county. form of religious belief which they held. He thought one of the greatest merits of ["Hear, hear!"] Most of them aimed the Bill was its elasticity. The County at the formation of character in addiCouncil could adapt its Education Com- tion to education, and religion was one mittee to special local requirements; it of the agencies in that work. A man could combine with other County Coun- who thought that religion was not adecils, and he was sure, though this was quately represented by the religious innot stated, it would be open to a County struction given in a Board School might Council, if it thought proper, to sub- reasonably think that the education divide its area and appoint separate given in a Board School was not such Education Committees for different dis- as he could deem satisfactory. That tricts. Last, but not least, the educa- view was held, as a matter of fact, by tion authority would have power, with vast numbers of people. Hon. Members the consent of the Education Depart might or might not agree with them ; ment, to modify the Regulations of the but they could not fairly or wisely treat Code with regard to the special circum- their view as а mere caprice, for stances of a locality. He thought it indulging in which they deserved to be would be difficult to lay too much stress penalised in respect of the aid given by on the advantage of greater flexibility the State towards education, while they and diversity. Educational needs themselves were paying rates in support differed not only from county to of an education which they could not county, but as between different dis- conscientiously use. They must look at tricts in the same county. In their this matter in a reasonable and practical system above the elementary they had way. Voluntary schools actually held abundant variety and elasticity, but an enormous place in the supply of elein their elementary education there had mentary education. If they were starved not been an equal measure of these inesti- and disabled, there was nothing to put mable qualities. No one would grudge in their stead. But, owing to the praise for the work which had been so heightened standard of educational readmirably done by the Education De- quirement, it was impossible to mainpartment; it deserved the gratitude tain these schools in thorough efficiency of the country; but some room was without some further aid. left for a larger flexibility and a better then, for some such moderate aid as this adjustment of the diversity of local Bill afforded seemed unanswerably wants. The late Vice President spoke strong, looking at the matter not from of the Bill as a decentralising Measure, the point of view of any religious but he should say the Bill provided safe- denomination, but in the light of what guards. It was a decentralising Mea- was required for the efficiency of our sure, he thought, in the best sense. It elementary education as a whole. Two provided that local experience and local points ought to be noticed in connection discretion should have due weight in with the Special Aid Grant. First, educational matters. ["Hear, hear!"] that it could be applied only to such Then, as to the Special Aid Grant, that purposes as would directly contribute to was to be given in the proper direction. improve the efficiency of the school aided, Mr. Acland. The case, as by providing a larger or better able to deal directly with the first two teaching staff, or better educational of these evils; and since some powers of fittings and apparatus. Secondly, that the Education Department and the encouragement would be given to the Science and Art Department would be federation of voluntary schools, which united in it, it would so far tend to had too frequently suffered from isola- mitigate the third evil the want of relation. A most important part of the Bill tion between the supervising agencies was that which enabled the new Educa- It was very satisfactory to note that the tion Authority to assume the care of money available under the Local Taxaorphan and destitute children. Subject tion (Customs and Excise) Act of 1890 to approval by the Education Depart- was expressly appropriated to education ment and the Local Government Board, above the elementary. It would prothe new education authority could make bably be a matter of regret in some a contract with any Board of Guardians, quarters that the Bill established no new and take over the care and maintenance of Central Authority corresponding to the all or any of the children chargeable to new Local Authority. The suggestion of that Union. It was clearly an ad- the recent Commission on Secondary vantage that this duty should be under- Education was that the Central Authority taken by a body with powers over the for Secondary Education should be a new whole county. And it was a still greater department (or rather a new branch of advantage that the body in question the Education Department) with a Minishould be an educational authority, ster at its head, and a Council of educawhich would act with a view to the edu- tional experts whom the Minister might cation of the child, and not merely, like occasionally consult on professional a Board of Guardians, with a view to the matters; this Council having also the relief of a pauper. ["Hear, hear!"] duty of deciding what schools were nonIt was a great thing that the taint of local, and of forming and keeping a pauperism would be absent. Then the register of teachers. He believed that new Education Authority would command some such Central Authority would have special facilities for boarding-out chil- to be established before our secondary dren; and in every village the elemen- education could be thoroughly organised. tary school teacher would be an agent Meanwhile, it might be pointed out that through whom the Education Authority the freedom which this Bill left to the could watch over the well-being of the Local Authority was quite in harmony children. As the House knew, this was with the intentions of the Commission. a question in which the electors felt a The Central Authority proposed in their very keen interest. There was no con- Report was not meant to produce a rigid stituency, it might safely be said, which or bureaucratic uniformity; its object would not hail with satisfaction a Mea- was, not to control, but to supervisesure which thus conduced to the more to assist the discharge of the duties rational and humane treatment of desti- assigned to the local bodies, and to tute children. ["Hear, hear!"] The promote a general harmony among them. new Education Authority was to have It should also be noted that the Governcertain powers in regard to secondary edu- ment had put down on the Paper a cation which, so far as they went, would Teachers' Registration Bill. A plan for doubtless tend to mitigate some admitted forming a register of duly qualified evils which now existed. These evils are teachers would be a valuable supplement chiefly first, a deficient supply of to the Measure which had now been secondary education, especially in the introduced. This Bill might not satisfy lower grades; secondly, the waste and all desires-few Bills did; it would, perconfusion caused by schools of different haps, receive some modifications of detail types trespassing on each other's pro- in Committee; but it seemed to him to vinces; and, thirdly, want of coherence deserve a cordial welcome, for it was and organic relation between the con- conceived in a large and fair spirit, it trolling agencies, such as the Education aimed at a real progress, and it promised Department, the Science and Art De- some very important improvements, partment, and the Charity Commission. both in elementary and in secondary The new education authority would be education. [Cheers.] MR. ALFRED HUTTON (York, all in future. The supporters of the GovW. R., Morley) thought that the Acts ernment had frequently acknowledged of 1870 and 1876 had not worked so that in dealing with this question it was hardly upon Denominational Schools as to be one of the necessary conditions the hon. Member who had just spoken that no grant should be made unless the had represented. The hon. Member had voluntary subscription was given throughtold them that these schools were threat- out the country, and he thought the ened with starvation and extinction, but least the right hon. Gentleman could do he believed it was the fact that the would be to introduce into the Bill that Church of England schools had greatly the schools managers of voluntary increased since 1870 up to the present should receive a subscription of at least time; and that fact alone would seem to 5s. for each scholar before he received prove that they flourished under the pre- these extra grants from the Government. sent state of affairs. There was one Another point was that he was afraid point in the proposals of the right hon. that the proposals of the Bill would Gentleman which had not been alluded create an unnecessary amount of friction to by his predecessor in Office; the new among the various local authorities in authority which he was going to estab- reference to education. Beyond this, he lish not only had power to administer thought that one of the operations of the these large grants, but had considerable Bill would be to prevent any improvepowers in relation to the framing of the ment in the present system of Board Code. What was the object of the Edu- School education unless the consent of cation Code? He supposed it was to the District Councils was previously secure some standard of efficient educa- obtained. One of the results of the tion in our schools throughout the coun- working of the Bill, he was afraid, try, but if every new authority was to would be that in villages and in rural be allowed to frame a Code according to towns where there were small religious its own will, they certainly might have denominations the children would be a variety of methods and subjects, but they might also have a variety as to efficiency. [Cheers.] He thought the right hon. Gentleman should be careful to so safeguard this power that the standard of education might not be lowered. SIR J. GORST said, the power to frame Codes was not a power which the Education Authority in the county could exercise by itself. It could only make such modifications of the Code as might be approved by the Education Depart ment. handed over to the Church authorities and be taught by them the Church Catechism and the formularies of the Church of England. He hoped that the right hon. Gentleman would introduce some safeguard into the Bill to prevent that possibility from being realised. ["Hear, hear!"] SIR W. HART DYKE (Kent, Dartford) congratulated his right hon. Friend upon the clear and statesmanlike speech in which he had laid his proposals before the House, because he had not heard a MR. HUTTON said, he hoped the more difficult question more ably handled Department would take care not to in that House. ["Hear, hear!"] Inallow the new authorities to lower the stead of criticising the proposals, which standard. With regard to the financial were of too wide and intricate a charproposals, he thought they hit the Board acter to enable the House to form a schools very hardly throughout the coun- hasty judgment upon them before separtry. The 4s. per scholar would reach ating for the holidays, he wished to ask very few School Boards, while every a few questions which would tend to Voluntary School would receive this clear up one or two doubtful points in grant. He thought the right hon. Gen- connection with those proposals. In the tleman would, when the details of the first place, he should like to allude to Bill were reached, see that it would be the question raised by the right hon. necessary that one section only of the Gentleman opposite as to the new community should not be treated diffe- authority which was to be set up by the rently from another. If the right hon. Bill. That part of the Bill entirely Gentleman abolished the 17s. 6d. limit, coincided with the evidence which he as he proposed to do, there would be no had given before the Royal Commission need for any voluntary subscriptions at on Secondary Education, in which he |